Anu Lala, MD, recently met with pickleball players at CityPickle Wollman Rink to talk about heart health and the benefits of playing pickleball.
Pickleball is quickly becoming one of New York City’s favorite ways to stay active—and it’s doing more than just bringing people together. It’s also a fun, heart-healthy way to support your overall well-being.
Why Pickleball Is Good for Your Heart
You don’t have to be a lifelong athlete to enjoy the heart-healthy benefits of pickleball. The game involves light jogging, pivoting, and stretching, which are movements that increase heart rate up and improve your circulation. Depending on the intensity of your play, 30 to 60 minutes can count as a full cardio workout.
“Exercise doesn’t always need to be intense and exhausting to benefit your heart,” says Anu Lala, MD, a cardiologist at the Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital. “Activities like pickleball offer a joyful, sustainable way to keep moving, and that consistency combined with weight-based activity is what protects and strengthens your heart over time.”
Benefits Go Beyond the Court
Playing pickleball a few times a week can help lower your blood pressure, support healthy cholesterol levels, and improve your endurance. Over time, this type of activity can help reduce the risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and other cardiovascular issues.
If you are living with a heart condition already, remaining active is important across a patient’s lifespan. Light-to-moderate exercise like pickleball is often a safe and effective way to stay strong—just be sure to talk to your doctor first.
It’s Also Good for Social and Mental Health
Beyond the physical benefits, pickleball is very social. Whether you’re playing a casual match or joining a local league, you’re likely to meet new people and feel part of a community. That social connection can improve mood, lower stress, and even benefit your heart health.
One thing to keep in mind: post-game celebrations. It’s tempting to reward a good game with indulgent snacks or drinks. But making heart-smart choices—such as fresh fruit, a handful of unsalted nuts, hummus with veggies, or whole grain crackers with avocado—can help keep all that movement working in your favor.
Bringing Heart Health to the Court
Caring for your health is an everyday practice, well beyond the walls of a doctor’s office. That’s why Mount Sinai has partnered with CityPickle to bring wellness, movement, and heart health education directly into the community in ways that are engaging, active, and fun.
“Whether you’re just picking up a paddle or you’re a regular on the courts, this partnership is about supporting your well-being—by encouraging healthy habits, building connections, and making expert guidance more accessible,” says Dr. Lala.
To book an appointment with Dr. Lala or for more information on Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital, please visit our website.